Summary In this vachana, Basavanna tells the seeker not to be consumed by anxiety over sins committed before. He does not deny the burden of past action, but he refuses…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna asks whether one utterance of Shiva’s Name is not enough to erase countless sins. He repeats the question through the Name of Hara, making the…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna asks a series of direct questions. Why should desire remain in one who is called a lover of the Linga? Why should anger remain in…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna asks why one should try to correct the crookedness of the world. The speaker redirects attention from others to oneself: steady your own body, steady…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna uses the image of iron touched by parasu. Once iron receives the transforming touch, it does not remain iron. The image establishes the central teaching:…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna overturns ordinary measures of caste and worth. Whatever one may be by social description, if one has not been touched by the Linga, that condition…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna asks what use there is in reading or hearing if one does not know the path of Shiva. The issue is not learning itself, but…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna calls for complete trust. The repeated phrase “trust fully, trust fully” gives the vachana its center. The trust he asks for is not tense, anxious,…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna gives the image of many trees standing on the slopes of a mountain. When sandalwood stands among them, its fragrance spreads to what is near…

Summary In this vachana, Basavanna begins with the image of iron transformed into gold through the touch of parasu. The image establishes the central measure: true contact changes the one…